ATLANTA, Ga. - The Missouri football team is soaring in alien airspace. After face-planting their inaugural season in the SEC, the new-kid-on-the-block Tigers are coming off a thrilling victory to clinch the East Division title.

Auburn can top that. It was just as bad last year, and it won the SEC West by vanquishing blood rival and No. 1-ranked Alabama in the state's annual Iron Bowl Armageddon in a finish that went beyond thrilling, into the realm of the unimaginable.

Both of those high-flying teams want to come down to earth quickly, but without crashing, when No. 3 Auburn (11-1) and No. 5 Missouri (11-1) meet in the SEC Championship Game Saturday in the Georgia Dome. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. on CBS.

"I wanted it to feel like every other week," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said of his team's response to a 28-21 victory vs. Texas A&M Saturday. "If I objectively look at it, I think it was. The rallying cry is, 'Do what we do; this is what we do'."

Said Auburn coach Gus Malzahn: "The challenge on emotional wins is you've got to put it behind you. Our guys showed up for their Sunday practice and went about their business like normal. I thought that was a very good sign."

While both coaches have sought to move their teams forward, they're handing out blinders with the helmets to keep them from looking too far down the road. The game will determine the SEC Champion and possibly a spot in the final BCS Championship Game.

The subject of a one-loss SEC champion jumping an undefeated Ohio State or Florida State should both remain 12-0 after respective conference championship games was quickly stamped out by both coaches. They're hoping it stays that way.

"I'm going to focus on the game tomorrow," was Pinkel's message.

"All I know is we've got the best league in college football," Malzahn said.

Auburn appears to be the team with more ground to make up to reset itself for the biggest game of the season. The state of Alabama, the region and the nation is still buzzing about Chris Davis 100-yard return of a missed Alabama field goal with no time remaining in what is likely to become history's most memorable Iron Bowl. Davis couldn't help getting reminded when one of his classes gave him a standing ovation.

Then, again, Auburn has experience finishing on the highest of high notes, having knocked off Georgia with a 75-yard Hail Mary touchdown with 25 seconds left in the game before the Iron Bowl.

Belief for Auburn stems from other more concrete attributes. An unstoppable running game led the conference with a 318.2 yards per game average, 82 yards ahead of the next best team, Missouri. Auburn's Malzahn-stylized read option attack plundered the league's No. 1 rushing defense for 296 yards, averaging nearly 6 yards per carry.

In the span of 12 games, Nick Marshall went from being a former defensive back playing quarterback to a Heisman trophy candidate in some books. His passing stats aren't glitzy but his ability to run the offense makes passing the ball less important.

Marshall is the SEC's No. 10 passer in efficiency (140.3) and No. 11 in yards per game (147.9). But he was No. 8 in rushing with 922 yards and 10 touchdowns. Teammate Trey Mason led the league with 1,317 yards for a 109.8 game average and 18 touchdowns.

Auburn's spread option mixes elements of the wishbone, veer and wing-T offenses to make just stopping the run a headache for defenses.

"It's an offense that presents so many problems because there's versions of the wishbone, the option. . . ," Pinkel said. "You have to have somebody to control the middle, the perimeter and the quarterback.

"The tailbacks are great players. The offensive line is good. But the offense is at a whole different level when you have Nick Marshall in there."

Missouri might have the defense that's up to the challenge. Missouri is ninth in total defense but second against the run, allowing 119.1 yards per game. It has not allowed more than 184 yards in any game. Missouri is also strong where it counts, allowing 19.4 points per game, second only to Alabama.

Defensive end Michael Sam, who is a lock for SEC Defensive Player of the Year, leads the SEC in sacks (10.5) and tackles for losses (18), and has plenty of help from tackle Markus Golden (6.5 sacks) and end Kony Ealey (6.5 sacks).

Besides a solid defense, Missouri has its own spread option quarterback dynamo in senior James Franklin, who returned to the lineup two weeks ago after suffering a separated shoulder against Georgia. He played in nine games but sill averaged 262 yards of total offense per game and accounted for 19 touchdowns.

Missouri's leading rusher Henry Josey returned from a badly injured knee that cost him the 2012 season and rushed for 951 yards and 13 touchdowns. Three Missouri receivers had at least 44 catches. Sophomore Dorial Beckham-Green, the nation's No. 1 recruit two years ago, caught 49 for 686 yards and 10 touchdowns while L'Damian Washington also had 10 scoring receptions and averaged 18.7 yards per catch.

Missouri will be attacking an Auburn defense that has taken its lumps but manages to stay a step ahead of the opposition while running from a 4-2-5 scheme under defensive coordinator. Ellis Johnson. It's averaging 414.2 yards per game but it's been good enough with the offensive production.

"Their defensive front is really good," Pinkel said. "They're a great red zone scoring defensive football team. That's why the scoring is low. They don't give up many big plays."